Overview
- Ezra Ausar led USC with 21 points while Jacob Cofie posted 15 points and 10 rebounds in the Big Ten home win.
- Tariq Francis scored 26 for Rutgers as the Scarlet Knights cut a 19-point deficit to one possession in the final seconds.
- USC shot about 51% from the field and held Rutgers under 40%, pairing efficient offense with a clear edge on the glass reported as 40-33.
- Accounts differed on USC’s turnovers, but all noted giveaways down the stretch before Chad Baker-Mazara’s game-sealing steal; he finished with 17 points.
- Short-handed without point guard Jordan Marsh, USC got nine rebounds, four assists and eight points from Kam Woods and nine points from freshman Alijah Arenas; next up are Indiana at USC and Rutgers at UCLA on Tuesday.